Electric guitar necks that need help

[Peter Vieth]

I was cleaning out my closet because I knew there was a neck somewhere in there I'd like for a project. But instead of the pristine maple neck I remember having I found four rosewood Ibanez Wizard necks, each needing some help.

Few questions, since I've replaced a fretboard once (too long ago to remember the process) and fretted two project guitars.

Is it easier to refret and fix damage to a rosewood fretboard or just tear the old fretboard off and start from scratch? One has pretty bad gouges. Looks like the prior owner had claws.

Is there some consideration to replacing a rosewood fretboard with a maple one?

What are the lazy man's options for a new fretboard? I have a two year old. Or do I just buy a new neck and sell these on eBay

One neck has a twist at the low frets (1-3) on the high string side. The higher string frets are very noticeably lower than the other frets. The E and A side is slightly raised. This neck has a very cool looking flame on the back which I bet might have something to do with the twist. My assumption is that attempting to straighten it with a reglue of the fretboard is not a high likelihood of success.







The final neck is a Fender that is in good shape but has narrow/short frets which I can't play.

[Barry Daniels]

Yes, no, maybe, depends, sort of.

Just kidding. In reality it is impossible to answer any of those questions without a lot more information and maybe pictures. But at the end of the day the answer should be what do you want to do? I am sure that any of those necks could be repaired if you have the time and the skills to tackle them.

[Gordon Bellerose]

The first neck you mention is the one with the gouges.
Those can be filled. Or sanded down flat if the gouges aren't too deep.
In the past I have used a dremel to rout out a damaged area, and glued in new piece of wood. Then sand flat. You have to be very accurate in doing that. It's sorta like doing inlay.

Replacing a rosewood fretboard with maple, is the same as replacing with rosewood. Gotta remove the old, and glue on the new.

The neck with the twist is a bit more difficult, but depending on how badly it is twisted, could be repaired.
Most likely the fret board would have to come off that one too.